Wet or dry dog food: what’s best for your dog’s needs?

What type of dog food is best – kibble or wet food? Or both together? Each type of food has its advantages, and as Tails.com’s nutritionist, I’m here to give you the lowdown on all the options. The best choice for your pup will always depend on their unique needs, which here at Tails.com, we always take into account when building their personalised meal plan.

Key takeaways

• Both wet and dry food can be nutritionally complete, so they have all the nutrients your dog needs. 
• Wet food’s higher moisture content makes it more hydrating and easier on a dog’s teeth, while the lower moisture content of dry food makes it easier to store and serve.
• While dry food can help keep your dog’s teeth clean, it is not a replacement for brushing their teeth or giving them special dental chews. 
• You don’t have to choose between wet or dry food – with “mixed feeding” you can give your dog both types of food for extra variety. 

Table of contents

What’s the difference between wet and dry dog food?
Benefits of wet dog food
Benefits of dry fog food
Wet vs dry: nutritional considerations
Can I mix wet and dry dog food?
When to choose wet, dry or both
Common myths about wet and dry dog food
Nutritionist-approved takeaways

What’s the difference between wet and dry dog food?

A good quality dry food contains ingredients like meat and vegetables, and is cooked and then dried. This means it has a longer shelf life, making it a very convenient option. Dry food is available from Tails.com in the form of our tailored kibble blends, with options that include healthy grains as well as grain-free alternatives. 

On the other hand, wet food is made by mixing fresh or frozen ingredients, which are cooked and then sealed for freshness in a tin, pouch or tray. Dogs can sometimes find this option easier to chew. 

Either option can be a ‘complete’ dog food, which means that this type of food’s nutritional content is perfectly balanced to form the entirety of your dog’s diet. However, there are a few differences between the two types of food, like its texture, how hydrating it is for your pup and the overall feeding experience. 

Benefits of wet dog food

Let’s explore some of the reasons why wet food can be a great option.

More palatable for picky eaters

Is your dog a bit of a fussy eater? You might find that they prefer wet food, because thanks to the high moisture content, it often has a stronger smell and taste. The softer texture can also entice picky dogs!

High moisture content

The high moisture content of wet food is good for another reason – it’s very hydrating, which means it can really help make sure your dog is getting enough water. This is especially true if your dog has a medical condition that means they need extra hydration, although sometimes your vet might prescribe your dog a special diet in these cases. [1]

Easier to chew

The soft texture of wet food means it’s nice and easy to eat, so wet food can be a good option for puppies, senior dogs or dogs that have dental problems.

Benefits of dry fog food

On the other hand, there are lots of good things about dry dog food too.

Convenient and mess-free

Dry food is easy to store, measure out and feed to your dog. It’s easy to travel with and if they get excited eating and knock some out of the bowl, it’s no problem to tidy up.

Longer shelf-life

Compared to wet food, dry food has a longer shelf life. It lasts longer in the bowl, too, if you have a dog who likes to eat their food a bit at a time.

Supports dental health

While it’s not a replacement for brushing, eating dry kibble might help reduce tartar buildup on your dog’s teeth. Because of its crunchy texture, dogs have to chew it more, which can contribute towards keeping their teeth clean. [2]

Dental chews are even better than kibble at gently removing plaque from your dog’s teeth, as they have special ingredients especially for this. The shape is also designed for cleaning teeth down to the gum line. 

Wet vs dry: nutritional considerations

Here are a few more things to consider when planning the breakdown of wet and dry food in your dog’s diet.

Calorie density

Due to wet food containing more water, dry food tends to be more calorie-dense per gram, meaning that a bowl of dry food will go a little further than the same quantity of wet food. [3]

Feeding amounts

As a result of the calorie difference, dogs may tend to need a larger amount of wet food to keep them feeling full and satisfied.

Here’s an example of the difference in calories between wet and dry food. A neutered dog who weighs 15 kg might need approximately 832 Kcals per day – so how much food would they need, based on an entirely wet or entirely dry diet? Remember, every dog is different, so this is just an example.

Type of food	Approximate kcals per 100g	Required serving size to reach 832 kcals
Wet food	90 kcals	237 g
Dry food	350 kcals	920 g

As you can see, in this instance, the dog would need more than three times the amount of wet food than dry in order to get the amount of calories they need.

Cost Comparison

When buying dog food in a store, dry options can often have a lower price tag. This is down to a few different factors, like wet food needing specialised packaging to keep it fresh. 

Here’s another comparison of wet and dry food for a moderately active, neutered dog who would be considered to be medium sized, weighing 15 kg. To find out how much it would cost to feed your dog per month with Tails.com, go ahead and fill in our dog food quiz. 

Dry food cost for a month (15 kg dog)	Wet and dry food cost for a month (15 kg dog)
£31.12	£60.82

Can I mix wet and dry dog food?

Yes, you can – this is known as “mixed feeding”. It’s a great way to bring some variety into your dog’s diet. Here are my tips on how to do it: 

• You can either add wet food to your dog’s dry food, or serve both separately. One thing to consider is that if you add wet food to your kibble and your dog doesn’t eat it all, it won’t stay fresh for as long as dry food by itself.
• Sticking to complete wet and dry foods will make it easier to make sure your dog’s diet is balanced. You can add tasty “toppers” to your dog’s kibble, but remember that they are not nutritionally complete foods by themselves. [4] 
• Keep an eye on the total calories in your dog’s diet to avoid overfeeding, including treats. A nutritionist, like one of our in-house nutrition specialists, can help you work out how many calories your dog needs, as well as how many they’re getting. 

Introduce new foods gradually, by changing the balance between the old food and the new food slowly over time, adding a little bit more each day. This helps prevent your dog from getting an upset stomach. [5] We’ve written a blog post that will help you and your pet get the mix of wet and dry food just right.

When to choose wet, dry or both

So how do you decide which type of food to give your dog?

Wet food may be better if…

• Your dog has dental issues that make soft food easy to eat, such as missing teeth. 
• Your dog needs extra water due to health conditions. 
• Your dog is recovering from an illness or surgery, like being spayed or neutered. This is because wet food is often a bit more palatable to dogs, tempting them to eat even if their appetite is reduced while they’re not feeling well. For a dog who has an upset stomach right now and can’t enjoy their usual diet, plain dishes like boiled chicken and rice may help. [6]

Dry food may be better if…

• You don’t have much fridge space and need a food option that’s easy to store and is just as tasty when kept in the cupboard. Another reason why kibble is convenient is that portion control is straightforward, as it’s easy to measure out the right amount of food.
• Your dog doesn’t always eat their wet food in time, so you need food that stays fresh in their bowl. Of course, you can always add a little warm water to kibble to help release the flavours and smells, to mix things up. 
• You’d like to give your dog something to eat that will help clean their teeth. Crunchy kibble is a bit better than wet food at reducing plaque. (However, it’s still not as good for this as dental chews or tooth brushing.)
• You’re looking for a budget-friendly option and would like to find an affordable type of food for your dog.

Mixing works well if…

• You want to provide variety for your dog, giving them lots of different flavours and textures to enjoy. Variety is really enriching for dogs and can help keep them feeling excited about meal times. 
• You want to expose your puppy or young dog to a wider range of foods while they are growing up, so they’re less likely to grow up into a fussy eater. This can also mean if they have to move onto a special diet for any reason, they’ll already be used to different kinds of food.

You want to supplement your dog’s mainly dry food diet with wet food, to help encourage them to eat, if they are a picky eater or perhaps a senior dog whose sense of taste and smell is not as strong as it once was. [7]

Common myths about wet and dry dog food

Don’t let unnecessary worries stop you from feeding your dog healthy, delicious food they’ll love! Here are a few misconceptions about wet and dry dog food I’m here to debunk: 

Myth	Reality
“Dry food is always better for teeth”	A diet of wet food, or a mix between wet and dry, will be perfectly fine for your dog’s teeth. While kibble might help reduce tartar, it’s more important to brush your dog’s teeth, give them specially designed dental chews and take them to the vet to get their teeth checked.
“Wet food causes diarrhoea”	Wet dog food is not more likely to give your dog an upset stomach – in fact, it’s very easy to digest. This myth may have come from people switching their dog’s diet onto wet food too suddenly. If your dog is a grazer who likes to eat throughout the day, it is possible that leftover wet food in their bowl could start to go off, making it less safe for them to eat – this could be a possible cause of diarrhoea.
“Dry food is less nutritious”	A complete dry dog food is just as nutritious as a complete wet food. At Tails.com, the ingredients in our tailored kibble blends are high quality, so our dry food is packed with all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that dogs need.

Nutritionist-approved takeaways

If you’re in any doubt about what to feed your dog, you can always talk to your vet, especially if your dog has special dietary needs such as allergies or health conditions. The Tails.com nutrition team is also always happy to help.

While wet and dry food both have advantages, there is no one-size-fits-all best option. It depends on your dog’s preferences, health and age, and your lifestyle. That’s why at Tails.com we create personalised meal plans for every dog. 

The most important thing is that your dog’s food is complete and balanced – meaning that it gives your dog all the nutrients they need, and that protein, fat, carbohydrates and other nutrients are all provided in the right quantities. 

FAQs

Is wet or dry food better for dogs?

Either wet or dry food can be a great diet for your dog. At Tails.com, both our dry and wet foods are nutritionally complete, so your dog gets all the nutrients they need. 

Can I mix wet and dry dog food together?

Yes, this is called “mixed feeding” and it’s really popular with dog parents for a number of reasons. It introduces variety and gives your dog the best of both worlds. 

Does dry food clean my dog’s teeth?

Kibble might help reduce tartar and plaque because they have to bite down more on it to eat, but it’s not the same as cleaning your dog’s teeth with a toothbrush or giving them special dental chews.

Is wet food bad for dogs’ teeth?

No, while wet food does not have the gritty texture that can help dry food clean teeth, it’s not bad for their dental health. There’s more to keeping your dog’s teeth in tiptop shape than what food they eat. 

What food is best for puppies or senior dogs?

Puppies and senior dogs both have distinct dietary needs. Fast-growing puppies need higher protein, [8] and senior dogs need ingredients like antioxidants and nutrients to provide extra joint support. [9] Wet food can be great for senior dogs who have dental issues or a lower appetite, or for puppies with soft baby teeth. Get in touch with Tails.com and we’ll give you a personalised meal plan for your dog, whatever their age. 

Sources

[1] The Spruce Pets, “Mixing Wet and Dry Dog Food”, June 18, 2025 
[2]  RSPCA, “Caring For Your Dog’s Teeth”
[3] Joii Pet Care, “The Benefits of Mixed Feeding for Your Pets”, July 3, 2024 
[4] PetMD, “What Are Dog Food Toppers?”, July 3, 2025 
[5] Vets4Pets, “How to Change Your Dog’s Food” 
[6] Blue Cross, “Caring for Your Sick Dog” 
[7] Pets4Homes, “Can Dogs Lose Their Sense of Smell?” 
[8] PetMD, “Can Puppies Eat Adult Dog Food?”, January 19, 2023
[9] PDSA, “A Guide to Senior Pet Food and Feeding Your Ageing Pet”, November 14, 2024